Jennifer's Top Five - Oct. 18

Pantochino Productions Presents: How To Be A Good Witch | Oct. 20-29 | Center for the Arts, Milford

Award-winning Pantochino Productions Inc., a not-for-profit, professional theatre company for family audiences, will launch it’s 2017-18 season with the new musical How To Be A Good Witch, which follows Rae, the youngest member of a family of witches, ready to cast a spell of goodness on all things Halloween. When she discovers and opens a magical book, all kinds of wonderful wizardry and witchcraft unfolds including a pair of mismatched witches anxious to guide the young girl on her journey.

Pantochino celebrates its seventh season of ridiculously entertaining, 100 percent-original musical theatre for family audiences in the greater New Haven area.

New this season, all Friday and Saturday performances will feature cafe seating at tables and chairs. Patrons are invited to bring their own food and drink during the show. Seating for Sunday performances are in traditional rows.

Long Wharf Theatre’s Contemporary American Voices Festival, an annual celebration of adventurous, innovative new plays, is currently in its third year. The festival is part of a continued initiative to support new work and give theatergoers a first look at some of the most exciting theatrical voices in the country. “New work is the lifeblood of the theatre. It’s what keeps the art form vital and alive. And how better to support new work than to give opportunities to today’s most exciting young writers?” said Christine Scarfuto, literary manager and curator of the festival.

All the Roads Home by Jen Silverman, directed by Lee Sunday Evans, Oct. 22, 3 p.m.

Tickets: $10 or all three readings for $25. Happy hour with half off drinks an hour before the beginning of each reading. More info: (203) 787-4282 or www.longwharf.org

Meet the New LIS Soundkeeper, Oct. 24, 5:30 p.m., New Haven Museum.

There’s a new “sheriff” patrolling Long Island Sound, and he’s a fish and wildlife biologist. Armed with a passion for protecting the biological, physical, and chemical integrity of the Sound and its watershed, Bill Lucey, the region’s newly appointed soundkeeper, will share details of his critical mission in a free presentation.

Lucey’s position is a program of Soundkeeper, Inc., a subsidiary of Save the Sound. Lucey upholds Save the Sound's mission to protect and restore Long Island Sound by patrolling 600 miles of coastline looking for possible environmental-regulation violations.

In addition to outlining his mission during his presentation at NHM, Lucey will explain how average folk can become advocates for the Sound and share his goals for expanding the current program monitoring beach bacteria levels.

Look out below! View elaborate chalk art designs all over the city streets. The event, throughout downtown New Haven, features family-friendly activities, including offers from retailers and restaurants, raffles, giveaways, a magician, face painting, live music (from 12:30-3:30 p.m.) from The Neighborhood Music School Premier Jazz Ensemble and Yale School of Music, and free parking at the 150 York Street Garage for both participants and spectators.

After the lights go down and the doors lock behind, the spirits of the Peabody Museum come alive. The 3rd annual haunted costume ball is a unique way to experience the museum – dance with the dinosaurs, slither with snakes and other creepy crawlies, imbibe the special witch's brew, and experience tours of terror through the haunted halls. Costumes encouraged but not mandatory (tho the evening's best costume will be handsomely rewarded!).

Tickets: 18+ only. $17.50-27.50, $10 for students, includes includes refreshments and two drinks. No tickets sold at door. Act fast: Early bird tickets through Oct. 19.

More info: https://eventgrid.com/Events/35920/2017-haunted-hall-crawl-costume-ball